5 health investments to make today

Start seeing your health as an asset and invest accordingly. Here are five ways to get started.

This content is sponsored by Jaggad.

When you’re young and your health is in peak condition, making the effort to keep it that way seems like a real – and almost unnecessary – sacrifice. But it shouldn’t be.

In my previous article The one investment you’ll never regret making, I looked at why you should absolutely make healthy choices now if you’re in a position to do so. They’ll not only make you feel good instantly, you’ll be doing yourself a serious favour further down the line. At the end of the day, you’re the only one who can invest in your long-term health, which is the foundation for a long and happy life.

If that resonated with you and you’re ready to get started on your journey to a better tomorrow, here are five health investments – some bigger, some smaller –that can pay off in the long run.

I’ve written previously about the benefits of team sports for kids, but they’re a great way for adults to stay fit too. That said, contact sports are notorious for delivering broken bones, chipped teeth and a few bruised egos, so do what you can to keep yourself – and your kids – injury free. Use the right protective gear, particularly mouthguards, to make sure the only dental work you need is a scale and polish.

Turns out dressing for success is a thing. Researchers from the US’s Northweston University conducted a study that suggested clothing can influence behaviour and attitudes because it carries a symbolic meaning. So, what you wear when you work out can subconsciously change how you act.

When you’ve got gear you love to wear, putting on those pieces becomes kind of like an actor putting on a costume – you become more motivated and ready for the task. I definitely subscribe to this, and it was one of the factors behind launching my activewear business Jaggad.

If you don’t have the right shoes, it makes it easy to put off exercising. So make sure you’re backed by a decent pair of runners designed for whatever activity you’re doing, headphones that stay put and a proper holder for your phone if you like listening to music.

If your budget’s tight and you can’t afford luxuries like remedial massages, DIY with makeshift equipment instead. Use tightly-rolled towels as improvised foam rollers or a hard hockey ball to trigger a deeper muscle release. Also, there’s no better workout buddy than a dog, mainly because those puppy dog eyes at the door will guilt you into committing to daily walks. You don’t have to go out and get your own – ask around the neighbourhood to see if you can help out with walking someone else’s dog. I’m sure you’ll get an enthusiastic ‘yes’.

Maintaining good health comes down to a mixture of prevention and cure – and private health insurance may help with both. Extras like physio and preventative dental cover give you the freedom to stay on top of some of the routine maintenance that can help to mitigate health problems later on in life. And if something unexpected happens, a suitable insurance package could help to keep bills to a minimum.

Yes, it could wind up being costly if you do it every month but treating yourself season-to-season and replacing the essentials when necessary can give you the motivational boost to keep your exercise regime on track long-term.

Instead of thinking about taking care of your health as a chore, try reframing it as an investment in your family life, your career, your mental wellbeing, your finances – basically everything. That way, you’ll be more driven to find a half-hour window four times a week to work out or to address any niggling ailments.

Get 30% off Jaggad gear as a member of AIA Vitality. To find out more head to the AIA Vitality webpage, and check out the latest Jaggad range here.

This article is bought to you by Jaggad. Jaggad’s mission is to help inspire and motivate people to live an active, healthy and well-balanced lifestyle through beautifully designed and functional activewear.

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